On Monday, September 9, I hiked the West Prong Trail at Tremont.

The first section of the trail begins as a steady climb before descending toward the West Prong of the Little River. I stayed left of an unmarked spur trail and continued on the West Prong Trail (heading toward Campsite 18).

It was in this area I saw the following wildflowers which hikers can still see in some degree of bloom.

  • Blue Stem Goldenrod: many – Past peak bloom.
  • Erect Goldenrod: many – Past peak bloom.
  • Flat Top White Aster: many – Approaching peak bloom.
  • Great Lobelia: (3) – 1 at peak bloom – other two just starting to bloom – So beautiful!
  • Hearts A Bustin: (1) – Photo shown is seed pod – not the bloom.
  • Iron Weed: (1) – slightly past peak bloom – At the beginning of the trail on the right.
  • Narrow Leaf White Top Aster: many ++ – Approaching peak bloom.
  • Southern Harebell: few – At or just beyond peak bloom – about .3 miles before reaching campsite on left.
  • Thoroughwort: many – Past peak bloom – was not able to tell which kind of Thoroughwort.
  • White Snake Root: many + – Just starting to bloom – some at peak bloom.

Note: Photos shown come from file folder – not made today

A bonus for the day was my bear sightings.

About ¾ of a mile up West Prong Trail on the left coming from Treemont there was a sow and a cub near the top of a tree eating acorns. Had I not heard the crunching I would not have noticed them. About another tenth of a mile up the trail there was a bear above the trail high in a tree eating acorns.

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.